Emissions test failure rate drops

County's numbers still higher when compared to neighbors

The percentage of vehicles failing the state's emissions testing in Brazoria County declined last year, but is still higher than other area counties.

According to figures provided by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, 132,092 vehicles in the county were checked from May 1, 2004 to April 30, 2005. Of those, 9,510 did not pass — a failure rate of 7.2 percent. The state average was 6.24 percent.

The previous year, 122,750 vehicles in the county were checked and 13,330 did not pass, a failure rate of 10.86 percent.

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Last year's failure rate for Galveston County was 7.18 percent, while in Fort Bend County it was 5.41 percent.

Bob Wierzowiecki, the state environmental commission's inspection maintenance team leader, said Brazoria County's higher failure rate than other area counties is not alarming.

"It's not like, 'Hey, we've got problems in Brazoria County.' That's not the issue there. Brazoria (County) is a rural county area and they seem to keep their vehicles a lot longer than a lot of individuals do," Wierzowiecki said.

The decline from the first year to the second year was expected. The state testing has been required in the county since May 2003, and the failure rate is generally higher during the program's first 12 months because the vehicles had not been previously tested, said Adria Dawidczik, spokeswoman for the state environmental commission.

"There has been a significant drop in the failure rate from the first year to the second," Dawidczik said in an e-mail message. "This indicates to us that there has been a significant number of dirty cars taken off the road in Brazoria (County)."

Wierzowiecki credits the reduction of failing emissions tests in the county to people doing preventive maintenance and making necessary repairs to their vehicles.

Statewide, he said, the emissions testing is being received positively.

"In Brazoria County, as well as all the other counties, (the testing) is moving along very smoothly," he said. "We're very happy with the results."

Franz Elliott, owner of B.C. Auto Repair, 2301 S. Gordon in Alvin, said he has noticed a decisive drop in vehicles failing emission tests within the last year. He said his business performs some 700 tests a month and that only about 10 percent of vehicles do not pass. During the first year of emissions testing, Elliott said he estimated that 15 percent of vehicles tested at his shop failed.

"It's getting better," he said.

The emissions test differs depending on the age of the vehicle. Vehicle models that date from 1979 through 1995 are tested for emissions on a dynamometer, a treadmill-like device that measures emissions while the wheels are turning at 55 miles per hour.

Newer vehicles are hooked to a computer that downloads emissions information stored on the vehicle's computer system. Vehicles from 1978 and earlier are exempt from the testing. Those vehicles that do not pass the emissions testing do not receive a state inspection sticker.

"The system is good," said Mark Hall, manager of Pearland Chevron, 2121 N. Main. "It works."

Hall said his station tests 650 vehicles monthly and about 10 percent fail.

Hall said some customers, especially those with newer vehicles, become angry when told their vehicle did not pass the emissions test. To calm them, he said, he reminds them that the testing is state-mandated and points to signs in his station that explain the requirement.

"It's all about technique," Hall said. "(You tell them), 'Your safety inspection passed. Your emissions didn't.' You give them something right up front and let them know, OK, your vehicle is safe, but your emissions is not passing.' Then, you address that."